Opinion: TVA is let off the hook again
“TVA is trying to distract us from remembering its broken promise and now charging us higher rates to fund self-congratulatory ads aimed at making us grateful to be their customer.”
There are 116 article(s) tagged MLGW TVA contract:
“TVA is trying to distract us from remembering its broken promise and now charging us higher rates to fund self-congratulatory ads aimed at making us grateful to be their customer.”
“It is suspicious that MLGW prefers to generate power — TVA’s job — rather than publicly admit TVA is hobbled. Whose interests are being protected?”
“We should ask who is willing to stand-up to TVA’s neglect, disrespect and disregard for our health and our community economic welfare. And who is interested in trying to save our citizens half a billion dollars a year in power costs.”
In the face of political pressure, Memphis Light, Gas and Water CEO Doug McGowen gave his firmest no yet — MLGW won’t be bidding out its energy supply again anytime soon.
"$450 Million for Memphis" wants Memphis Light, Gas and Water Division to end its ties with TVA and start the move with a specific look at how much it would cost to sign on with the MISO network, the best known competitor for the city-owned utility that is TVA's biggest customer.
Two leaders of the civic group backing an end to TVA ties say on "Behind The Headlines" that they want to hear more about how much it would cost MLGW to go with another electric power supplier without having to generate its own power as well.
Memphis is not in a weak position regarding our electricity choices, and $450M for Memphis believes that a city should never sign a $20 billion contract without at least one competitive bid that addresses all costs, terms and options.
The civic group calling for MLGW to cut ties with TVA says TVA's estimate this week of hundreds of millions of dollars in expenses in the switch is wrong. And it says the draft report's recommendation of local power generation by MLGW is wrong too.
The group “$450 Million For Memphis” says the bids from rival power suppliers should be redone to include proposals that are outside the basic requirements set up by MLGW management.
The leaders of the group “$450M For Memphis” talk on Behind The Headlines about their problems with the ongoing RFP process and why they are phasing out the group.
“The nationally-recognized firm Enervision, is expected to submit its analysis to City Hall before year-end, a potential game-changer that MLGW will not acknowledge.”
Any change in electricity provider could require changes in that transmission system, MLGW leadership says.
While there are real savings if MLGW buys power outside of TVA, according to EnerVision, it’s not a figure that will transform MLGW or the City of Memphis’ budget, but ratepayers would feel its impact.
The report recommends MLGW revisit the market for energy sources when conditions improve.
“Heaping praise on power companies that merely do what they are supposed to do is pointless. The now-exposed reality is that TVA is no more reliable than its neighboring utilities.”
MLGW president and CEO Doug McGowen says his priority is finding ways to accelerate the $1.2 billion, five-year plan to upgrade the utility’s infrastructure.
Even though MLGW is in some ways back where it started, the power provider RFP wasn’t all for naught, said the utility’s board chair.
After a lawyer for the Franklin L. Haney Co. spoke during Wednesday’s MLGW board meeting, the board took a brief, unplanned recess to consult its legal team.Related story:
The vote will determine whether MLGW signs a long-term contract with the Tennessee Valley Authority or continues with its current contract.
U.S. District Judge Thomas Parker presided over a four-hour hearing Thursday concerning the legality of TVA’s long-term contract.
A lawsuit alleges that TVA’s long-term contracts violate two federal laws. A U.S. district judge will hear the case Thursday.
Before his confirmation by the Memphis City Council this week, Doug McGowen indicated MLGW will move closer to Memphis’ day-to-day operations. He also said the city-owned utility could expand to include broadband and has to improve its responsiveness to Memphians.
MLGW has failed its fiduciary duties to its ratepayers. The ratepayers deserves a fair RFP. City Council should vote against the TVA contract until all questions are answered, even if it takes a few years.
As Memphis officials review bids of competitors who might replace the Tennessee Valley Authority as the city’s sole supplier of electricity, a Freedom of Information lawsuit seeks release of salary information on TVA’s four regional vice presidents.
The recommendation Thursday, Sept. 1, from MLGW CEO and President J.T. Young will likely not be the last word on the issue.